Marmot by Vickie Emms
December 12, 2011
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Photographed by my husband high up top of a mountain as he took a hiking trail called Wilcox Pass Hiking Trail in Jasper, Alberta this summer. The red under his body is lichen on the rocks, looks like blood, but it isn’t!
Marmots
The marmot is a large, diurnal, burrowing RODENT of the SQUIRREL family, native to Eurasia and North America. Marmots are rotund and stocky, weigh 2-9 kg, and have thick fur, short bushy tails and small ears.
Of 13 species, 4 occur in Canada, inhabiting grassy areas and rocky slopes of mountains and lowlands. Yellow-bellied, hoary and Vancouver Island marmots (Marmota flaviventris, M. caligata and M. vancouverensis , respectively) are found only in the Western provinces; the woodchuck (possible corruption of the Cree word wuchak) or groundhog (M. monax), in patchy distribution throughout Canada, excluding Nunavut and Newfoundland. The Vancouver Island marmot, found only in Canada, inhabits a few subalpine sites on Vancouver Island.
Marmots eat green PLANTS and can become pests in vegetable gardens. They signal danger by shrill calls. Marmots hibernate in burrows for 4-9 months; on awakening they may be almost half their autumn weight. The whimsical observance of Groundhog Day (February 2) recognizes the marmot’s impending emergence from a long winter’s rest (much later in colder climates).
Females mate after spring emergence and after a short gestation bear 2-9 young.
Canon EOS Rebel XT; Canon 300mm lens
Wilcox Pass Hiking Trail, Jasper, Alberta, Canada
Comments
wonderful capture. what a beautiful animal… lol
thank you Otto
– Vickie Emms
Aww adorable. I want one! :)
thanks Stephanie, I would like one too :-)
– Vickie Emms
Fabulous capture!!
thank you Kathleen
– Vickie Emms
This is really great!! What an expression you have captured on his face!! Priceless!! Well done Fred!!
looks like “Yikes where do I go from here”, since he’s at the high point on that mountain.
Thank you Blair I will make sure Fred sees your comments.
– Vickie Emms
Kudos to Hubby, I’ve seen them but never able to capture this clear ! Thanks for sharing ! Appreciated ! ♥ Paul
thank you so very much Paul
– Vickie Emms
Wonderful shot! :-)
thank you Brenda
– Vickie Emms
excellent capture,well done hubby
thank you Terrie
– Vickie Emms
thank you Ray
– Vickie Emms
Aw, what a face! Great shot!!
thanks Lee-Anne, they are the cutest little characters
– Vickie Emms
hehe, I love the banner Janice,,,,,,,thank you so much "-))
– Vickie Emms